NASA today rolled out the design for next generation of American spacecraft. (NASA photo)

In a symbolic boost for the nation’s manned space exploration following retirement of the shuttle, NASA announced today selection of the design for a powerful new heavy lift rocket to carry American astronauts to deep space in the years to come.

The space agency’s announcement by NASA administrator Charles Bolden came just weeks after failure of a Soyuz rocket carrying a Progress cargo resupply capsule to the manned space station raised questions about U.S. reliance on Russia to ferry astronauts and cargo to the $100 billion U.S.-built laboratory since retirement of the shuttle.

Bolden made the long-awaited announcement at a news conference on Capitol Hill flanked by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Dallas, and Bill Nelson, D-Florida. The two senators are key players on Senate committees with jurisdiction over NASA’s budget.

Administration officials said the new rocket system powered by giant engines fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen would be the most formidable launch system deployed since the Saturn V carried Apollo astronauts to the moon between 1969 and 1972.

The new rocket coupled with a deep-space crew capsule already under development should enable an un-crewed test flight of the exploration system in 2017 and a crewed test flight by 2021, officials said.

Hutchison, the ranking Republican on the Senate panel with jurisdiction over NASA, welcomed the development. She said the announcement showed that NASA, the White House and Congress were finally united behind the next phase of the nation’s space program.

Officials said the total cost of project through 2017 would be about $18 billion to get the new spacecraft to its first unmanned test flight.

“The vehicle concept and design being formally announced today is consistent with the design and development approach that was directed by the NASA Authorization Act,” the lawmaker said. “Because of the delays in announcing this design, it is imperative that we work with NASA to assure that the new Space Launch System is pursued without further losses of time and efficiency, while relying on NASA’s world-class engineers and designers to continue U.S. leadership in space exploration.”

Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, whose district includes Johnson Space Center, said the announcement was “long overdue, reflecting this Administration’s lack of commitment to ensure the next generation of American human space exploration. Nearly a year ago, Congress ordered NASA by law to decide on a new (space launch system). America and the aerospace industry have been in a holding pattern waiting for NASA and this Administration to display the leadership required by the law.

“Their failure to act forced unnecessary layoffs and a longer gap in America’s ability to get our own astronauts to low earth orbit and beyond, making us further dependent on the Russians for access to space. While I am pleased that the new system has been announced, it was long past due and I will continue to push this White House to comply with the law of the land and get America back into space.”

The development of a new spacecraft for the post-shuttle era is part of a broader effort by President Obama to revamp the nation’s venerable space exploration program. NASA under Obama’s leadership is encouraging development of commercial spacecraft to service the space station through 2020 while NASA devotes scarce resources to breakthrough technologies that will enable astronauts to land on asteroids by 2025 and orbit Mars by 2035.

The new spacecraft system is part of a “very ambitious and clear path forward for American space exploration,” an administration official said. “This will ensure that the United States remains the world leader in space.”

China and India are pressing ahead with space programs that could return man to the moon in the next decade.

Officials said the decision over the post-shuttle spacecraft was the “culmination of a months-long, comprehensive review of potential designs to ensure that the nation gets the best possible rocket for the investment — one that is not only powerful but also evolvable so it can be adapted to different missions as opportunities arise and new technologies are developed.”

Officials said NASA’s choice of a proven liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel system used in the shuttle program reflected NASA’s conclusion that common components could “reduce costs and increase flexibility.”

Early flights of the new rocket would be capable of delivering up 70-100 metric tons into low earth orbit before evolving to a greater lift capacity of 130 metric tons – enough to carry fuel and supplies for deep space exploration.

Officials said initial flights of the new rocket launch system may use existing solid boosters and other hardware from the shuttle program and other rocket programs in order to “reduce developmental risk, drive innovation within the agency and private industry, and accomplish early exploration objectives.”

Officials said the timetable for acquisition for the multi-stage rocket would be announced at a later time.

[...] 1. NASA has announced the design of a powerful new heavy lift rocket that is to carry American astronauts deep into space in the years to come. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said that the announcement shows that NASA, the White House and Congress is finally united behind the next phase of America’s space program. Stewart Powell reports [...]